Luke 23:25 kjv
And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
Luke 23:25 nkjv
And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
Luke 23:25 niv
He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
Luke 23:25 esv
He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.
Luke 23:25 nlt
As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.
Luke 23 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Luke 23:24 | And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. | Immediate action of Pilate's decision. |
| John 19:16 | Then he delivered Him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led Him away. | John's account of the handover. |
| Mark 15:15 | And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. | Mark's parallel account. |
| Matthew 27:26 | Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. | Matthew's parallel account. |
| Acts 3:13 | The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. | Peter's accusation to the crowd. |
| Acts 7:52 | Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: | Stephen's rebuke about persecuting prophets. |
| Isaiah 53:7 | He was oppressed, and he was afflicted; yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. | Prophecy fulfilled in Jesus' silence. |
| Psalm 109:8 | Let his days be few; and let another take his office. | Prophecy concerning betrayal. |
| John 18:39 | But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? | Pilate's attempt to release Jesus. |
| Matthew 27:18 | For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. | Pilate's awareness of the motives. |
| John 19:12 | And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. | The pressure on Pilate. |
| Romans 4:25 | Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. | Jesus' sacrificial death for sins. |
| 1 Corinthians 15:3 | For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; | Paul's emphasis on Christ's death. |
| 1 Peter 2:24 | Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. | Jesus bearing our sins. |
| Acts 2:23 | Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: | God's sovereign plan in the crucifixion. |
| John 11:50 | Nor yet consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. | Caiaphas' prophetic statement. |
| 2 Corinthians 5:21 | For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. | The exchange in Christ's sacrifice. |
| Galatians 3:13 | Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: | Christ bearing the curse. |
| Mark 14:43 | And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the elders and scribes. | The instigators of Jesus' arrest. |
| John 19:6 | When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Then Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. | The persistent cry of the crowd. |
Luke 23 verses
Luke 23 25 Meaning
This verse describes the Roman governor Pontius Pilate yielding to the demands of the crowd and the chief priests and elders, who insisted on Jesus' crucifixion. Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified.
Luke 23 25 Context
This verse is situated in Luke's account of Jesus' trial and crucifixion. Following Jesus' condemnation, Pilate, the Roman governor, gave his authorization for the crucifixion. This decision was made under immense pressure from the Jewish religious leaders and the crowd, who vehemently demanded Jesus' death. Pilate, though seemingly finding no fault in Jesus (John 18:38), succumbed to their pressure, especially the threat that releasing Jesus would make him disloyal to Caesar (John 19:12). This surrender of his authority represents the ultimate injustice, where the innocent was condemned to appease a volatile mob. The Passover season, a time of remembrance of Israel's liberation from bondage, ironically becomes the backdrop for Jesus, the Liberator, being handed over for crucifixion.
Luke 23 25 Word Analysis
καὶ (kai): And. A common conjunction connecting clauses.
Πιλᾶτος (Pila/tos): Pilate. Proper name of the Roman governor of Judea.
ἀφῆκε (apēke): let go, released, delivered. From the verb ἀφίημι (aphiēmi). Here it signifies surrendering custody, passing Jesus over to be dealt with as the accusers wished.
τὸν (ton): the. Definite article.
αἴτημα (aithēma): request, petition, demand. From the verb αἰτέω (aitēō), meaning to ask, beg, or demand. This highlights that Jesus' fate was determined by a specific request from the crowd.
αὐτῶν (autōn): of them. Possessive pronoun, referring to the chief priests, elders, and the multitude.
τοῦ (tou): of the. Definite article.
ὄχλου (ochlou): crowd. From ὄχλος (ochlos). Refers to the large assembly of people.
τῷ (tō): the. Dative definite article.
δῆμος (dēmos): people, populace. Here used to emphasize the popular will or clamor that influenced Pilate. Some manuscripts use a different word, but the sense of popular pressure remains.
ὑμῶν (humōn): your. Second person plural possessive pronoun, addressing the people who were present and participated in the demands.
And Pilate gave sentence - The Greek word translated as "gave sentence" (ἀφῆκε) implies a final decision and formal authorization for the act. Pilate officially sanctioned the crucifixion.
of their request - The phrase "of their request" (τὸ αἴτημα αὐτῶν) underscores that Pilate's action was a direct response to the explicit demands of the accusers.
that it should be as they required - This entire phrase emphasizes the capitulation of Pilate to the will of the majority and their leaders, thereby yielding his judicial authority to the mob's cry. The passive construction highlights that Pilate was acting according to the demands placed upon him, rather than executing impartial justice.
Luke 23 25 Bonus Section
This surrender by Pilate is not just an isolated incident of political failure; it is also deeply symbolic. Jesus, who came to set men free from sin and death, is himself delivered by human authorities to the very forces that lead to condemnation and death. The Passover setting amplifies this irony, as the true Paschal Lamb is handed over for sacrifice. The specific Greek word used for Pilate's action (ἀφῆκε) can also mean "to let go" or "to forgive," adding a layer of bitter irony – he "lets go" of Jesus, but not in the sense of releasing him freely, but by releasing him to his executioners. The pressure exerted by the crowd, specifically mentioning that releasing Jesus would mean they were not "Caesar's friend," highlights the fear of Roman reprisal that drove their insistence.
Luke 23 25 Commentary
Pilate, seeking to pacify the frenzied crowd, ultimately caved to their demands for Jesus' crucifixion. Despite his attempts to find a legal basis for acquittal or a less severe punishment, the relentless clamor and political pressure from the chief priests and the people prevailed. His decision represents a profound failure of justice, where political expediency and popular opinion trumped righteousness. He hands over the guiltless "King of the Jews" to appease those who themselves were disloyal to Caesar in spirit. This moment highlights the corrupting influence of fear and the human tendency to prioritize public perception over moral duty. It is a stark reminder of how societal pressure can lead to profound injustice.